Diploma of Mental Health
CHC53315
Build the high-level skills to support people experiencing mental health issues. AIPC's Diploma of Mental Health combines flexible, practical training in intervention programs, wellness planning and advocacy with core counselling skills and drug and alcohol support, preparing you for roles such as Mental Health Worker, Counsellor of Mental Health or Community Rehabilitation Support Worker across community services and health care.
Our Diploma of Mental Health will equip you with the high-level skills to support those experiencing issues relating to mental health. Our uniquely flexible and practical program will provide you the ability to offer specialist information to those affected by mental health concerns, such as intervention programs, development of wellness plans and directives, and advocacy services. You’ll also learn counselling skills and how to work with those experiencing drug and alcohol concerns.
When you graduate, you will be prepared to pursue a career in roles such as Mental Health Worker, Counsellor of Mental Health, Community Rehabilitation Support Worker, and be equipped to work within both community services and health care related industries.
You are able to gain entry to the Diploma of Mental Health if you have:
Completed Year 12, or
Completed a Certificate III qualification, or
have at least 3 years of sufficient life experience (work or study), if over 21 years of age.
The Diploma of Mental Health is a nationally recognised training program in Australia, so you can be assured of its quality, status and integrity.
Reduced Upfront (and enjoy a substantial discount).
Take advantage of our Fortnightly or Monthly Payment Plans
Pay via Credit Card or Direct Debit.
Our Student Support Centres are located in:
Brisbane
Sunshine Coast
Gold Coast & Northern Rivers
Sydney
Melbourne
Adelaide
Perth
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Course Recognition
Why study our Diploma of Mental Health
Our Diploma of Mental Health will set you up for a rewarding career helping others.
Career ready
When you graduate, you’ll be extremely well prepared to pursue a career in the mental health sector. You'll enjoy our strong industry reputation and linkage.
Extremely applicable
Our program is extremely suitable for people from all sorts of backgrounds. It's the ideal path, whether you are seeking a fresh start in a rewarding profession; or want to acquire specialised mental health and counselling skills as an adjunct or extension to your core profession.
Mental health training specialists
We believe you're better off learning from a specialist than a generalist. Many training providers deliver courses across a variety of industries. At AIPC, we prefer to concentrate on counselling and community services education.
Flexible learning
With so many demands on our time it can be difficult to fit study in around other commitments, that's why our Diploma of Mental Health has been designed to maximise your learning from home where you can progress through your studies at your own pace.
Career ready
When you graduate, you’ll be extremely well prepared to pursue a career in the mental health sector. You'll enjoy our strong industry reputation and linkage.
Extremely applicable
Our program is extremely suitable for people from all sorts of backgrounds. It's the ideal path, whether you are seeking a fresh start in a rewarding profession; or want to acquire specialised mental health and counselling skills as an adjunct or extension to your core profession.
Mental health training specialists
We believe you're better off learning from a specialist than a generalist. Many training providers deliver courses across a variety of industries. At AIPC, we prefer to concentrate on counselling and community services education.
Flexible learning
With so many demands on our time it can be difficult to fit study in around other commitments, that's why our Diploma of Mental Health has been designed to maximise your learning from home where you can progress through your studies at your own pace.
Course Outline
Establish and confirm the counselling relationship #
The first unit of this diploma introduces you to the profession of counselling, its historical development as well as some of the major counselling theories and approaches which underpin it. You will also learn about a structured approach to establishing a counselling process and relationship as well as what are considered to be the key responsibilities of a counsellor.
Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills #
This unit introduces you to a range of counselling skills and knowledge that will help you communicate effectively with clients in a counselling setting. Specifically, you will learn about microskills that will help you understand and establish rapport with clients, and specialist counselling skills for facilitating positive client outcomes.
Support counselling clients in decision-making processes #
Counsellors often support clients to clarify their goals, explore options and develop a course of action. This unit introduces you to some key models and practices of decision-making commonly applied within the counselling process. You will also learn about some practice considerations for assisting clients in the decision-making process.
Facilitate the counselling relationship and process #
This unit focuses on essential skills and knowledge for counsellors to support clients throughout the counselling process. This includes working collaboratively with clients to explore concerns, implement interventions, review effectiveness of counselling, and conclude the counselling process.
Work with diverse people, Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
In this unit, you will be guided to reflect upon gender, culture, ethnicity, subcultures, sexuality and ability, and how they are each to be valued and respected within our community and a counselling context. You will also learn to communicate effectively and respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds and situations, including people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders. This unit also explores the concept of cultural safety from the perspective of counselling service provision and development of community services programs.
Manage work health and safety *
Working under Workplace Health and Safety legislation, this unit outlines how to establish, maintain and evaluate Workplace Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Provide grief and loss support
This unit specifically explores the issues of grief and loss and how counsellors can support clients through this process. You will learn some key theories and skills that will help you to understand and respond appropriately to clients experiencing grief and loss.
Implement trauma informed care #
This unit allows you to develop strategies to address specific trauma needs and to build the skills and knowledge required to promote trauma informed care.
Provide systems advocacy services #
Through this unit students will learn how to advocate for improvements to service delivery to enhance client outcomes.
Establish self-directed recovery relationships *
In this unit, you will learn the required skills and knowledge to promote self-directed recovery relationships with people with mental illness, aswell as the principles of recovery oriented practice.
Provide recovery oriented mental health services *
This unit focusses on how to work collaboratively to implement a range of strategies as part of recovery-oriented service for people with mental illness.
Work collaboratively with care network and other services *
In this unit you will learn how to work collaboratively with care network and other potential services for a person with mental illness. Within a work context, this means working with a variety of health and community service professionals, in a recovery-oriented approach, to assist the person with mental health concerns.
Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
This unit introduces you to the skills and knowledge to work together with clients with co-existing mental health and AOD issues, such as working collaboratively to develop and implement a plan of action to address their co-existing needs. You will also learn how to provide support and services to clients such that the risks they may experience are minimised and address their needs for further care, if required.
Provide early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs
This unit provides you with the skills and knowledge required to develop and conduct early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs focussing on mental health and wellbeing.
Implement recovery oriented approaches to complexity *
This unit allows you to identify and respond to issues of complexity when supporting people living with mental illness and their care networks. Using a strengths-based approach this unit works on recognising that complexity is not a characteristic of an individual. Complexity may be impacted by a range of interactions between the worker, the organisation and the environment.
Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing #
In this unit, you will learn how to work collaboratively with individuals to assess, promote and review all aspects of wellbeing.
Provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives *
In this unit you will learn what is required to develop recovery wellness plans and advanced directives to support a person living with mental illness. These plans outline the person’s preferences and plans to maintain wellness and to direct actions and support strategies should they become unwell.
Research and apply evidence to practice
This unit focuses on how Mental Health workers conduct research on best available information to support and improve their work practice. You will learn about identifying topic and purpose of research, sourcing credible information, analysing information within the context of Mental Health work, and integrating research outcomes into your practice
Reflect on and improve own professional practice
Students will learn how to evaluate their own professional development through evaluation and reflection practices.
# These units require the practical demonstration of skills in a real or simulated work environment.
* This course also requires completion of a work placement of a minimum of 160 hours.
At AIPC we have a payment method to suit every student. If you decide to pay for your course upfront you will enjoy a substantial discount, and you can concentrate on your studies without thinking about further payments.
If you would prefer to spread your payments, you can take advantage of our fortnightly or monthly payment plans.To further assist make training as accessible as possible, we separate payment for tuition (theory elements) from that of the practical course elements. Payment for the practical elements is done as they are undertaken. See full details below.
We always strive to keep tuition as affordable as possible, opening up quality education for everyone.
Course* | Reduced Upfront Payment | Fortnightly Payments** | Monthly Payments** |
|---|---|---|---|
Diploma of Mental Health | $4,990 | $147.50 | $295 |
+1 Advanced Study Major (+1 Free ASM) | $5,785 | $155 | $310 |
+2 Advanced Study Major (+2 Free ASM) | $6,580 | $175 | $350 |
+3 Advanced Study Major (+3 Free ASM) | $7,375 | $200 | $400 |
*Total upfront course cost is $6,160, which includes tuition of $4,990, plus 6 practical sessions each of $195. The practical elements are paid for as they are undertaken. They can be completed by online group workshop, via Zoom/Skype, by uploading a video demonstration, or by having a private assessor assess your skills.
**Fortnightly/Monthly payments can be made by Credit Card or Direct Debit.
For over 30 years AIPC has set the benchmark for service and support in education. We offer a complete external study support system that has been developed and refined over decades of research and continual student feedback.
As a student you have unlimited access to the Institute’s Toll Free 1300 Study Assistance Line. Our degree-qualified education advisers are available 9am and 5pm EST Monday to Friday to provide you with friendly academic support. Their focus is to support you throughout your studies so you can graduate in the time frame you set. This includes answering questions on assignment topics, personal coaching on assignment writing, and giving hints and tips on specific concepts. The Study Assistance Line is there whenever you feel you need a bit of extra guidance.
The structure of the Diploma of Mental Health ensures you graduate with sufficient practical skill so you can apply your knowledge with confidence.
Regular seminars give you the opportunity to apply the theory you have learned in contemporary scenarios. They are also a great opportunity to get together with fellow students and participate in casework sessions under the guidance of a qualified Lecturer. Seminars are held regularly in most capital cities throughout Australia.
Students who may not be able to attend seminars for whatever reason, can elect to complete the practical components through alternate means, such as a one-on-one or small group session with a private assessor. We have private assessors in numerous regional areas across Australia.
Students can also complete their practical components by video recording a demonstration of their skills. We have guidelines available to assist students compile their recordings and develop effective role plays to demonstrate their skills.
The Institute website is an extremely helpful study resource. Via the website you can access the My.AIPC Student Portal which is your link to numerous study support and e-learning functions. You can:
Download electronic versions of your workbooks
Complete your activities and upload for marking
Contact an Online Education Adviser for study assistance
Access the Knowledge Base, a massive database of the most commonly asked academic questions, categorised for particular subjects, activities and concepts
See when seminars are available in your area
Plus much more.
Request a Course Guide
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30-day money-back guarantee.
If you're not satisfied we'll give you your money back.
Zero Risk
Your enrolment comes with a guarantee that empowers you to enrol risk-free. If, for any reason whatsoever you decide you do not want to proceed with your course within 30-day, we will give you a 100%, no questions asked, money back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
The diploma qualifies you to provide specialist support and counselling, where the Certificate IV in Mental Health prepares you for entry-level work as part of a support team. At diploma level, you’ll run intervention programs, develop wellness plans and advocate on behalf of clients. The course covers 19 rather than 15 units. Certificate IV graduates receive nine units of credit towards the diploma, which shortens the time it takes to finish.
The diploma covers 19 units. By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to:
Run intervention programs for people affected by mental health concerns
Write wellness plans and advance directives with clients
Speak up for clients within services and systems
Establish a counselling relationship and maintain it over time
Draw on the major counselling theories in your practice
Support clients whose mental illness comes with drug or alcohol concerns
Your first unit introduces counselling as a profession, covering its history, its major approaches and what a counsellor is responsible for.
Mental illness and substance use frequently occur together, which is why the diploma has dedicated units on supporting clients affected by both. You’ll learn to write wellness plans that reflect a person’s full circumstances, then revise them as those circumstances change. Plans only work if the services behind them respond, so the course teaches you to advocate for what your client needs when a system moves slowly.
Yes. You’ll complete a minimum of 160 hours of work placement in a mental health or community services setting, supporting clients under the supervision of experienced staff. Several units also ask you to demonstrate your skills in a real or simulated work environment before you get there. Those hours are the part of the course most graduates point to when they talk about what prepared them for the job.
The qualification prepares you for roles like:
Mental health worker
Mental health counsellor
Community rehabilitation support worker
Outreach and residential support worker
You’ll find these positions throughout community services and health care, in government departments, non-government organisations and clinical services. Working at the diploma level gives you the chance to work with clients one-on-one as opposed to as part of a team.
Nurses, psychologists, social workers, support staff and doctors all contribute to one client’s care, and the diploma prepares you to hold your place among them. You’ll practise reporting what you observe in terms colleagues can act on, advocating for your client’s needs in multidisciplinary discussions and recognising when another professional’s expertise or scope of practice is required. Your placement also gives you experience working in a team, which teaches you more about this than any unit can.
AIPC delivers this diploma entirely online, so wherever you live in Australia, you can work through the material at home. Most full-time students finish within 18 months, and part-time or self-paced study is available if you need longer than that. You’ll spend your 160 placement hours in a mental health or community services workplace, which you’ll arrange as part of your studies.
This mental health course could suit you if you’re comfortable sitting with people in distress and you want the training to respond. Many students already work in nursing, teaching or community services and want mental health skills to go with what they do. Others are starting fresh. Entry requires Year 12 or a Certificate III. Otherwise, you can gain entry with three years of relevant work or study experience if you’re over 21.
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